Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-25
Mr.. BRAGG MAKES A GALLANT FIGHT
In Defense Of the Treasury and COmmendS
the Backbone of the President as
Something to be Proud Of
TRUE SOLDIERS DON'T WANT 1T.
The Measure Condemned by the Press of the
Country. Regdarless Of Party---The
Animus Of the Republican Mem
bsrS---Aye~175, Noes 125.

motion OF Mr. MatSOn the Depenuenl
Pension bill, with the veto message of the
President, was called up.
Mr.. Bayne, of Pennsylvania, favored
the passage Ofthe bill over the veto. The
bill, he said, was being opposed by the
most corrupt and hypocritical methods
that had ever been employed to defeat or
promote legislation.
Mr.. Bragg, of Wisconsin, said the time
had arrived when the pension question
should receive more than a casual con-
sideration. 1t was time for the members
of the House to get out from the roseate
bubble, in which they have lived in
Washington, prepared for them by claim
agents, and look after
THE INTERESTS OF THE REAL SOLDIER,
and the business interests of the country.
They have drifted alOug impelled by q
species of sympathetic impulse, regardless
of reason or Judgment, until the period
was reached which eliminated in the pre-,
sentation and passage OF one OF the most
scandalous bills which has ever been sent
to the President for his signature.
The people Of the country, without re
gard TO party, had every reason to be
thankful that this bill had been presented
to an Executive, who had
BACKBONE ENOUGH To MEET THE sITTA-
TION.
In few years the soldiers of the country
mot the bummersl would have arrived at
an age when they could come TO Congress
and demand as a right--nOt ask us char,
ity-that provision be made for them. Let
not Congress bankrupt the treasury before
that time arrived, by yielding to the de-
mands of deserters, coffee coolers and
counter jumpers.
Ii the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr HayneJ would read the National TIL,
tune, published in Washington by men
who received from SO, 600 to s450OO {.
month rs fees from pensioners
BLOOD MONEY
taken from the soldier whom they pretend
ed to love be would find in every column
some abuse of the President aud OF those
who thought differently from them as to
the propriety of this measure Such news
papers as this which prOfessed to be the
friends of the soldiers were such friends
as vultures were the friends OF dead bodies,
because they fed and fattened on them.
1t had been charged that he was not 4
friend of the soldier. TO that he replied
that no man who had served with his corps
in the field for four years, who had fol-
lowed the starry flag in fifty or sixty
pitched battles, would forget them. 1t was
for that class of soldiers that he stood here
to day.
TO DEFEND THEM
against the imputation cast upon them by
the passage of pauper pension bill. No
man who had enjoyed the exqlsite delight
of riding down line that was wayering
in and breaking in the presence Of the
enemy and heard the cheer Of the three
times three go up cheer of confidence and
JOY that leader had come-cOuld ever
forget his comrades. Who that had ever
seen those men rushing into battle
thoughtIess of themselves and of their
homes, ready to lay down their lives for
their country, could ever forget them or
would be willing that they should be
, clasSed as paupcrs and placed on the roll
with the coffee coolers OF the army.
The men who advocated this bill are
Nor THE FRIENDS OF THE TRUE SOLDIER
They advocated the bill, many of them,
why? Simply because the men could
vote, whom they expected to buy by this
bill"
Mr. Henderson, of Iowa-''For one !
pronounce that false Applause on the
Republican side and in the galleries.
Mr.. Bragg say that that is tho sub
stratum on which all this section is based.
II these men, whom they call paupcrs,
were to call upon them individually Tor
aid, they would say to them, You good
Tor nothing scoundrels, you are as cOmpe.
tent to work as we are ~ Laughter and
applause on Republican side.
This bill, he said, would grant pensions
To men who had served from December,
1864, tn June, 1866. Who were those
men, They were
THE SCUM OF THE EARTH.
They were the scum-aye and the dregs.
They stayed in their homes until they were
bOught-bought by men who speculated 10
blood from 800 to $500 with the
private assurance that they were physic-
ally so defective that all they had TO do
was to 20 10 the hospital, and not endangeT
their precious caTcaSseS. Gentlemen talked
about soldiers being in the aims houses.
The men who We're found there we're the
men who had come from them and who,
when they left the army, had lapsed into
their old condition. No true brave soldier
need ever go to the poor house. The men
who went there were native there. They
had not self respect, no character, they lay
down and open their mouths for . teat to
suck.
Mr.. Steele, OF Indiana, inteIected re-
mark.
Mt. Bragg said that he knew that the
gentleman who had Just interrupted him
IFHE>DARED VOTE HIS CONVICTIONS
would vote as be tMr. Bragg did. He
knew gentlemen who had committed
themselves day after day, in opposition TO
the bill, and were grateful for the vote.
| Cries OF Who are they?"J
81 know what am talking about.
have heard them" Repeated cries Of
s'Name then" >" Name your men," You
can { do it." and much noise and confu-
sion.
The Republican COngreSsmel, all OF
them" was Mr.. Braggs reply, which was
greeted with mingled applause, laughter
and ieers-
The spectators, who filled the galleries
to their utmost capacity and who listened
eagerly to all that was said on the floor.
now took part in the demonstrations Oi
diapproyal snd approval, and though
without adding to the noise and confusion
sufficiently to justify the Speaker in order
ing the clearing Of the galleries, gave vent
to their feelings until the close of the de-
bate by frequent applause,
Mr.. Bragg stated repeatedly the press
was opposed TO the bill. The great Repub-
lican party Of his State
STOOD RS TUE pPRSInENT